SAP Group Worker at Casa Central – Chicago, Illinois

Position Summary

Casa Central’s School Age Program (SAP) provides out-of-school-time enrichment programming for children ages 5–12 and their families. The Group Worker is responsible for planning, organizing, and implementing activities in the School Age Program. Group Workers may have to walk, drive and/or ride on Casa Central’s buses to pick up children from school; engage in indoor and outdoor play; lead and supervise children on various field trips; plan and implement lesson plans and special activities; provide support with homework; and ensure a welcoming, safe, nurturing, and engaging environment for children and their families. This position also provides coverage and support across all SAP classrooms and the main office as needed to maintain smooth program operations and ensure adequate staffing. **Please note this is a variable schedule: full-time (40 hours) in the summer and during days of non-attendance at school and part-time (20 hours) on regular school days.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Include the following; other duties as assigned:

Family Engagement

• Maintain communication and a positive relationship with families.
• Share information with parents/caregivers about their child’s strengths and successes.
• Collaborate with families and program staff to address challenges or needs.

Program Planning

• Develop lesson plans that instruct and engage children in activities including active sports, games, arts and crafts, nutrition, science, drama, SEL, and more.
• Identify interests of individual children and develop plans to support their growth.

Participant Service Delivery

• Lead a group of children in engaging activities that meet funder and licensing/accrediting body requirements.
• Assist children with homework; provide choices and guide positive decision-making.
• Accompany and supervise children on outings, including walking to parks, schools, field trips, and water activities when necessary.
• Pick children up from school (walking or via agency vehicles) and ensure safe transportation.
• Help children serve meals (breakfast, lunch, and supper on full days; supper on half days), following safe food handling protocols. Assist in and actively monitor all mealtimes to ensure nutrition guidelines, safety, and positive mealtime engagement are upheld. Follow safety measures with children indoors and outdoors, always ensuring active supervision.

Service Documentation

• Maintain accurate daily attendance and meal count records.
• Support completion of individualized quarterly case notes.

Administrative Tasks

• Attend and participate in staff meetings.
• Approve time sheets and ensure compliance with agency and funding guidelines.
• Ensure daily activities align with allowable agency-approved activities.

Program Support & Classroom/Main Office Coverage

• Provide coverage in all School Age Program classrooms as needed to support routines and maintain required ratios.
• Assist the main office with tasks such as front-desk coverage, communication with families, and general administrative support when assigned.
• Respond to staffing shortages, schedule changes, and emergent needs as directed by program leadership.

Program-Specific Activities

• Maintain knowledge in child development and OST care by attending required training (minimum 20 hours annually).
• Work with leadership to maintain DCFS and ExceleRate Illinois compliance.
• Support volunteers and interns in their engagement with children.

Performance & Quality Management

• Maintain collaborative working relationships with staff and external partners.
• Incorporate agency mission, philosophy, and values in daily work.
• Engage in PQI processes as required.

General Requirements

• Sensitivity to cultural diversity required.
• Subject to drug/alcohol screening and background check.
• Must meet all essential duties satisfactorily.
• Valid Illinois Drivers license

Education/Experience

• Acceptable educational and/or experience pathways as defined in DCFS standards (full details retained from original document).
• Gateways SAYD credential strongly preferred.

Language Skills

• Bilingual in Spanish preferred.

Computer Literacy & Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Basic computer skills required.

Mathematical Skills

• Basic math skills required.

Operating Environment & Working Relationships

• Ability to work cooperatively in an interdisciplinary team.
• Ability to build relationships with diverse families and stakeholders.

Decision-Making Authority

• Ability to solve practical problems involving concrete variables.
• Seek support from Program Coordinator and/or Director when needed.

People Management

• Maintain cooperative relationships with agency staff.
• Support volunteers and interns.

Remote Work/Technology/Mobile Phone Usage

• Not eligible for remote work.
• Personal mobile phone not required or reimbursable.

Physical Demands

• Regularly required to sit, talk, hear, and use hands.
• Must be able to lift and carry 25 lbs.

Work Environment

• Noise level is usually moderate.

Disclaimer

The statements herein describe the general nature of work performed in this role and are not an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required. Responsibilities and requirements may change at any time.